cago traffic like the l

r past. Athena sat in the back seat, silent and calcul

going?" Marcus

ng across three lanes without signaling. "A dead zone. No di

e know about dead zones?" A

not mortal. Not completely. My father was Hephaestus. Which

tare at her. "Your

ned. "He died six months ago. During the Cri

ent except for t

hat night," Athena said quietly.

that night. Said something was wrong with the divine treaties. That someone was planning to break the peace." She grippe

rry," Ma

ent six months thinking he died in random pantheon violence. Then you showed up. Golden light. Div

he factory's depths. The interior was surprisingly clean, furnished

en busy," At

ed seventeen gods, forty three demigods, and two hundred sixteen mortals. The official story says

elieve that,"

recognized the street where he had found Rachel. "Look at the kill pattern. The gods did not die f

ser, studying the

ach other. But witnesses say they were fighting different enemies in different directions." Elena pulled u

ce in his sto

positioned at power points. Deaths timed to specifi

t?" Ele

the Crimson Night as a mass sacrifice ritua

er shadows and ancient power. About how

ted orchestrating Ares's death. W

erful enough to kill seventeen gods alone. She

a said. "Gods wo

e factory's far end. A

lled a gun that hummed with divine energy. Marcus f

he shadows. Tall, muscu

or

stepping forward. "

ready. "Or did he deliver you

he was unarmed. "I come alone.

ena said, gun a

aid. "There are others. And they are not working for the Ves

Marcus

names of gods during the Crimson Night. Anyone whose name sh

uncil has been paralyzed. Why has no one moved again

?" Elena

enough to manipulate events. Enough to

xecution matter

ecome in three thousand years. A new god. Born from death and choice rather than immortal br

d before I finish ch

Broken and hating yourself. Because if you die angry and defiant, the mar

ath Marcus's skin, c

stop her?"

cence and expose the conspiracy. Once the pantheons know

ttered. "We have three days and e

d, checking the time. "You los

. Two days. Forty eight hours to solve

to the Crimson Night who never gave testimony. Someone who was ther

Marcu

. A man in his forties, unremarkable

ere Ares died. He called 911, reported the cha

ally happened,"

never tell anyone," Elena said.

p. Quietly. But if Odin d

Athena finished. "We

he factory. The walls

us," Elena h

dows pouring through the streets. D

ter, a figure in

ol

give us three day

grimly, raising her blade. "Then he star

doors expl

opening, holding a s

option," he said. "Fig